John abstee



J. ABSTERDAM.

Introducing Gas Fuel into a Convertertor` Making Steel, &c. No. 84,336. Patented Nov. 24, 1868.

,time @geant Matmata-wwe JOHN ABSTERDAM, Or NEW YORK, N.` Y.

' Leners .1.2mm No. 84,336, daad Nwemba 24, 186s.

IMPROVED PROCESS FOR INTRODUCING- GAS-FUEL INTO .A CONVERTER FOR MAKIN STEEL AND REFINING- IRON.

The Schedule referredto in these Letters Patent and making part ofthe same.

To all whom it ma/y 4conce/rfa: v

-Be it known that I, J OHN ABSTERDAM, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Process for Introducing' Fuel into a -Converter for Making Steel and Refining Iron; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,.and exact description thereof, whichwillenable those skilled in the art to make anduse the same.

This invention consists in introducing fuel, either in a gaseous or solid form, into the molten metal in the converter, by suction, lin 'contradistinction to the pro- `cess' heretofore known, where fuel has been introduced into the molten metal by force.

` In order to facilitate the explanation of rnyprocess, I will refer to the annexed sketch, which represents a sectional view of an apparatus such as I may use in carrying out my invention, though I'will here remark that I do not wish to conine myself to anyparticular apparatus, but reserve the right to make such changes in the same as may be desirable, according toivarying circumstances.

In carrying out my process, I introduce the'iron to be refined, or to be converted into steel, in a molten state, in -aV converter, A, which is provided with a series of openings, a, iniits bottom, and the neck of which connects with an exhaustapparatus, B, of any suitable construction. The openings, a, are closed by plugs,` until the molten metal has been introduced, and the exhausting-apparatus has been started. Then the plugs are removed, anda current of airis made to pass through the molten metal by suction, as fully described in Letters Patent granted to me, January 23, 1866. As the air passes through the molten metal,it burns away the carbon contained in the iron, dilating the impurities contained therein, which are extracted from the molten vmass by suction, and the iron is-rened; but if the process is carried on a little -too long, or if it is desired to convert the iron into steel, it is necessary to introduce a fresh supply of fuel to the action of the streams carried into and through the molten metal in the converter. v

The gaseous materials are introduced by means of a pipe, b, which is situated under the converter, and connects with a chamber, c, from the top of which extends a series of nipples, d, which correspond in number and position to the holes, a, in the bottom of the converter. 1f gas is admitted through the pipe b, it issues from the nipples d, and the suction of the air carries the same into the converter.

If a hydrocarbon-liquid, such as crude petroleum, is admitted to the chamber c, it may be desirable to pro vide the nipples d with Asmall wick-tubes, so that the liquid will be d by capillary attraction, and that, by burning sal liquid as it rises in the nipples, a flame is produced which contains a large quantity of free carbon, and which is carried into the 4converter by the suction of theair.

The chamber c will be so arranged that it can be .raised or lowered by means ofa foot-lever orotherwise,

so that its position in relation to the converter can be adjusted. It may also be provided with plugs itting over the nipples, so that, byraising said chamber, all the holes-Ya, in the bottom of the converter, can be stopped up simultaneously.

By introducing fuel into the converter by suction, I gain the following principal advantages: I require no distinct apparatus for forcing'in the fuel, the fuel being carried in spontaneously by suction with the current of air; the quantity of fuel introduced can be regulated with the greatest nicety, and the process ofreiining iron or making steel is thereby materially facilitated; and, finally, I can regulate the introduction of the quantity of fuel and air necessary to produce the greatest amount of heat required for rening the iron or converting it -into steel, it being very wellknown that cast-iron conquired, enter with the air, through the molten mass,

by suction, I produce a veryintense heat, and at the same' time the requisite amount of combustible matter is furnished to the oxygen of the air therein, which prevents a too rapid decarbonization of the metal in the converter.

This operation will be readily understood, because, so i long as Isupply carbon to the oxygen of the streams of air passing through the molten metal, I also continue the heat in the converter, Without burning all `or too much of the carbon of the iron beibre the metal above described in my process, I have complete control of the purification and conversion of the metal in the converter.

Having thus described my invention, v v What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Le ters Patent, is-

, The process, herein described; of introducing fuel into the molten metal in a converter, by suction.

JOHN ABSTERDAM.

Witnesses W. HAUFF, Giras; WAHLERS.

(See his claim of Novenibernll, 1856.) In 

